Chris Johnson (RB)

Chris Johnson Wants To Re-Sign With Cardinals

After joining a new team in each of the last two offseasons, running back Chris Johnson hopes to stick with his current team as he nears free agency once again. As Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com details, Johnson said during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday night that he’d like to re-sign with the Cardinals for the 2016 season.Chris Johnson

[RELATED: Cardinals, Tyrann Mathieu Discussing Extension]

“I feel like at this point in my career I am not really chasing the money,” Johnson said. “I can’t say I ever really chased the money, but when you’re a young guy in this league, you want to take care of your family and get the highest deal possible. I still want to get the best deal, but at the same time, I want to be somewhere where we have a chance to win. I feel like Arizona is the best place for me right now.”

Johnson, who turned 30 last September, had a bounce-back season of sorts in 2015 with the Cardinals. While his average of 4.2 yards per carry was actually a slight step down from his production with the Jets, he saw more playing time and got more touches in Arizona, racking up 814 rushing yards in just 11 games.

Unfortunately for Johnson, a fractured tibia suffered in the second half of the season sidelined him for the stretch run. Having been placed on IR with the designation to return, the veteran back would have been eligible to return to action if the Cardinals made the Super Bowl, but the team fell just short, losing to the Panthers in the NFC championship game.

Johnson is coming off a year in which he signed a one-year, $870K contract, with the ability to earn up to $1.3MM via incentives. I’d expect a slight raise for him this season, since he looked good before his injury, but he won’t be in line for a huge payday.

If the Cardinals bring him back, Johnson would likely have to compete with presumed starter David Johnson and backup Andre Ellington for touches.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Notes: Cardinals, Cowboys, Buccaneers

Cardinals running back Chris Johnson hasn’t played since late November because of a fractured tibia, but the team will activate him for Super Bowl 50 if it defeats Carolina in the NFC title game, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reports (Twitter link via Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo). Johnson, 30, rushed for 814 yards and three touchdowns in 11 regular-season games before landing on IR-DTR. He returned to practice earlier this month.

More on the potentially Super Bowl-bound Cards and a couple of their fellow NFC teams:

  • The Cowboys are making adjustments to their offensive coaching staff, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. Steve Loney, who was the Cowboys’ assistant offensive line coach this season, will become the tight ends coach. That leaves the future of incumbent TEs coach Mike Pope unclear. Marc Colombo, who played for Dallas from 2005-10, will take over Loney’s old post as the club’s assistant O-line coach.
  • Carson Palmer‘s $6.35MM base salary for 2016 is on track to increase by $800,000 because of playing time escalators, tweets CBS Sports’ Joel Corry. If that happens, Palmer’s $8.15MM base salary for 2017 will decrease by the same total, however, per Corry (Twitter link).
  • The Buccaneers are hiring Brett Maxie as a defensive backs coach, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Bay Tribune (Twitter link). Maxie, who coached Vanderbilt defensive backs the last two years, will join Jon Hoke as the Bucs’ second DBs coach.

Cardinals’ Chris Johnson Returns To Practice

Cardinals running back Chris Johnson returned to practice on Tuesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Johnson remains on short-term IR. Chris Johnson (vertical)

His unfortunate late-season injury brought an end to one of, if not the, best comeback stories in the NFL this season. In 2015, the 30-year-old enjoyed a resurgence that few imagined could be possible over the offseason. In 11 games (9 starts) for the Cards, Johnson rushed for 814 yards and three scores off of 196 carries. Johnson will not be eligible to play until the Super Bowl and the Cardinals have some work to do before they get there.

Last season for the Jets, Johnson ran for just 663 yards, the first time in his career he recorded fewer than 1,000 yards in a season. However, he averaged a respectable 4.3 yards per carry for Gang Green in 2014 and the Cardinals saw potential in Johnson when no other team in the league did. The ground game was a weak spot in Arizona last season, as the team’s leading rusher, Andre Ellington, totaled just 660 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry, prompting the Cards to make the low-risk, potentially high-reward signing.

In October, the Cardinals went on record saying that they would look into an extension for CJ2K. Obviously, the Cards will now wait until their season is through to discuss their future with the veteran.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Cardinals Place Chris Johnson On IR-DTR

The Cardinals announced that they have placed running back Chris Johnson on IR-DTR, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com tweets. In related moves (link), the Cardinals promoted running back Kerwynn Williams from the practice squad, signed cornerback Corey White, and cut cornerback Robert Nelson Jr.

The unfortunate news brings an end to one of, if not the, best comeback stories in the NFL this season. In 2015, the 30-year-old enjoyed a resurgence that few imagined could be possible over the offseason. In 11 games (9 starts) for the Cards, Johnson rushed for 814 yards and three scores off of 196 carries. If he plays again this season, it would have to be in the Super Bowl.

Last season for the Jets, Johnson ran for just 663 yards, the first time in his career he recorded fewer than 1,000 yards in a season. However, he averaged a respectable 4.3 yards per carry for Gang Green in 2014 and the Cardinals saw potential in Johnson when no other team in the league did. The ground game was a weak spot in Arizona last season, as the team’s leading rusher, Andre Ellington, totaled just 660 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry, prompting the Cards to make the low-risk, potentially high-reward signing.

Williams, 24, has just one carry with the Cardinals to his credit in 2015. Last season, Williams ran for 246 yards off of 53 carries in five games for Arizona.

In October, the Cardinals went on record saying that they would look into an extension for CJ2K. Obviously, the Cards will now wait until the offseason to discuss their future with the veteran.

Chris Johnson Suffers Fractured Tibia

TUESDAY, 3:08pm: The Cardinals are evaluating all of their options when it comes to Johnson, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com reports (Twitter links). The Cards could keep CJ on the roster, place him on IR, or use the temporary IR for him. With the temporary IR, Somers believes that the soonest he could return would be for a possible NFL title game. Johnson’s injury, he adds, is a chip fracture near the top of tibia and close to knee, rather than the traditional broken leg a “tibia fracture” would suggest.

Meanwhile, backup Andre Ellington was diagnosed with a sprained toe after tests, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He’s day-to-day and his status for Sunday is in doubt.

9:02am: Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 (Twitter link) hears that Johnson is expected to miss six to eight weeks, noting that the club could promote Kerwynn Williams from the practice squad to help replenish the backfield in Johnson’s absence. The timeline suggested by Jurecki would put Johnson on track for a possible return in the postseason, though there’s no guarantee he’d be healthy in time for Arizona’s first playoff game.

MONDAY, 5:23pm: The Cardinals have learned that star running back Chris Johnson suffered a fractured tibia on Sunday, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Johnson will be be out for an extended period of time, but it’s not immediately clear exactly how long he will be sidelined. As Arizona looks ahead to Week 13, one has to imagine that Johnson’s regular season could be over and that could spill over into postseason territory as well.

Early reports on Sunday indicated that suffered a left knee injury, but it turns out that his injury happened below the knee. So far in 2015, the 30-year-old has enjoyed a resurgence that few imagined could be possible over the offseason. In 11 games (9 starts) for the Cards, Johnson has rushed for 814 yards and three scores off of 196 carries.

Last season for the Jets, Johnson ran for just 663 yards, the first time in his career he recorded fewer than 1,000 yards in a season. However, he averaged a respectable 4.3 yards per carry for Gang Green in 2014. Meanwhile, the ground game was a weak spot in Arizona last season, as the team’s leading rusher, Andre Ellington, totaled just 660 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry.

In October, the Cardinals went on record saying that they would look into an extension for CJ2K.

Extra Points: McCoy, Hue Jackson, CJ2K

Chargers head coach Mike McCoy says he’s not concerned about job security, as ESPN.com’s Eric D. Williams writes.

I’m taking this job one day at a time like I do every day,” McCoy said. “I just keep plugging away every day and put great plans in, week in and week out. And I take it one day at a time here.”

The Chargers are 21-22 under McCoy, and 1-1 in the postseason. The Bolts have struggled of late, losing 11 of their past 15 dating back to last season. McCoy has one year left on his deal beyond 2015 and it’s far from a certainty that he’ll get to coach through the end of that contract.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

NFC Rumors: Johnson, JPP, Gurley, Curry

One of the biggest surprises in the league this season may extend for a potential encore. The Cardinals are discussing an extension for Chris Johnson, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports. Although no deal is imminent, both sides discussed the issue this week. Johnson’s playing on a one-year contract he signed in August. Signed to an $870K deal with no guarantees, the 30-year-old Johnson ranks second in the league with 567 rushing yards.

Let’s take a look at what else is transpiring around the NFC before Week 8’s early tilts kick off.

  • Jason Pierre-Paul has a chance to play next week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Giants are reportedly open to it. They rank 31st in the NFL with nine sacks thus far. Pierre-Paul can earn $50K for each half-sack he records in an incentive-laden contract and will receive $8.7MM if he can reach 10 in the Giants’ remaining nine games. The sixth-year veteran’s only recorded double-digit sacks in two seasons.
  • The 49ers have discussed Alex Boone, Joe Staley and Vernon Davis (Twitter link) with teams, but CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora hears (Twitter link) that Staley is considered the most available. The 31-year-old Staley’s in the middle of a six-year, $44.65MM contract and has cap numbers of $8.3MM and $11.2MM the next two seasons. Staley’s deal runs through 2019.
  • Eagles fourth-year defensive end Vinny Curry‘s surfaced in trade discussions, Schefter reports (as relayed by Andrew Kulp of CSNPhilly.com). A 6-foot-3, 279-pound tweener in a 3-4 scheme, Curry could have value as a 4-3 end. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal and likely to depart the Eagles after the season, Kulp writes. The CSNPhilly reporter notes the best the Eagles could get for Curry, who has never started a game but recorded nine sacks off the bench last season, is a mid-round pick.
  • Rams GM Les Snead‘s paranoia over whether one of the team’s NFC West rivals would take Todd Gurley invited him to act quickly during the draft, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times reports. Snead was concerned about the 49ers or Cardinals drafting the potential NFC rookie of the year, so the team’s interest in the Georgia star remained a mystery. “I definitely was excited when they took me at No. 10. I was kind of shocked. They really kept it quiet,” Gurley told Farmer. “I know when they do those visits to do background checks back home, one of my high school coaches was like, ‘Yeah, the Rams came by,’ and I’m like, ‘They’re not going to take me.'”
  • NFL executives peg Robert Griffin IIIs trade value as minimal, considering his fifth-year $16.2MM option that is guaranteed against injury, and are more inclined to let Washington release the beleaguered signal-caller, Liz Clarke and Mark Maske of the Washington Post report.
  • Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if Lions GM Martin Mayhew will be the latest post-London staff casualty, using Matt Millen‘s 2008 ouster as a reference point of Detroit bucking the usual trend of firing GMs after the season.

Cardinals Considering Extension For CJ2K

Cardinals GM Steve Keim says that the one-year contract under which running back Chris Johnson is now playing is “something we will look at” in terms of a potential extension, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. Johnson, who sat on the shelf for much of the offseason, has enjoyed a surprising career resurgence in 2015.

Johnson, 30, is tied for the second-most rushing yards in the league with 405 yards, behind Bears star Matt Forte who has 438. What makes CJ2K ‘s play even more impressive is the fact that he did not have a training camp. Immediately after signing with Arizona in August, Johnson suffered a hamstring injury which kept him on the sidelines. Some might point to Johnson’s play through five weeks of football as a fluke, but a more optimistic observer might argue that Johnson could continue to soar as he shakes off his summer rust. Of course, the Cardinals are expected to proceed with caution given that Johnson is at a very advanced age for running backs.

Last season for the Jets, Johnson ran for just 663 yards, the first time in his career he recorded fewer than 1,000 yards in a season. However, he averaged a respectable 4.3 yards per carry for Gang Green in 2014. Meanwhile, the ground game was a weak spot in Arizona last season, as the team’s leading rusher,Andre Ellington, totaled just 660 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry. No other Cardinals back had more than 250 rushing yards and Keim won’t let Johnson get away if he feels that he can be the bell cow for Arizona’s offense.

NFC Notes: White, Forte, Ogletree, Kam

While Roddy White is happy with the Falcons‘ 4-0 start, and is focused on his No. 1 goal of obtaining a championship ring, the veteran wideout tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com that he’s frustrated about not contributing more to those victories.

“For me, at the end of the day, I want to catch passes,” White said. “I’m not out here just f—ing around just to sit around to just block f—ing people all day. It’s not what I want to do. … I’ve contributed to offenses for this franchise for the last nine, 10 years. It always bothers me when I go out and don’t catch any balls in a game because it hasn’t happened in so long.”

Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links) speculates that White wouldn’t be averse to a trade, and adds that there are teams that would have interest in determining the receiver’s trade value. That’s not how I interpreted White’s comments though, and I’d be pretty shocked if Atlanta seriously considered that option — I think it could just be a matter of getting the longtime Falcon a few more looks going forward.

For what it’s worth, White told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he’s not “disgruntled” — he simply wouldn’t mind a bigger role on offense.

Here are some more Tuesday odds and ends from around the NFC:

  • Appearing this morning on The Dan Patrick Show, Bears running back Matt Forte was asked about the trade rumors swirling around him, and said he’s not worried, adding that “a lot of it is media speculation.” Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk has the details, along with the quotes from Forte.
  • We heard on Sunday that Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree‘s 2015 season could be in jeopardy due to a right ankle injury. Josina Anderson of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that Ogletree underwent surgery and it went well, but St. Louis has yet to announce a potential timeline for his return — don’t expect him back anytime soon though, says Anderson.
  • Following Kam Chancellor‘s crucial forced fumble in Monday night’s win over the Lions, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett interrupted Chancellor’s post-game interview to implore team owner Paul Allen – the “17th-richest man in the world,” according to Bennett – to give the star safety a new contract (Twitter link via Matt Miller of Bleacher Report). Chancellor appears unlikely to negotiate a new deal until after the season, but I’m sure he appreciates the support from his teammate.
  • Cardinals running back Chris Johnson admitted that he seriously contemplated retirement earlier this year after getting shot in the shoulder, as Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com details.
  • In the wake of the Dolphins’ decision to fire Joe Philbin, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera told reporters that owner Jerry Richardson has assured him he wouldn’t fire him in the middle of a season, as Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer writes. Of course, with the Panthers riding a four-game winning streak, it doesn’t look like that’s something Rivera would have to had worry about in 2015 anyway.

Cardinals To Sign Chris Johnson

SATURDAY, AUG 29, 8:30am: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com elaborates on the previously reported details of Johnson’s contract.

$400K of the veteran’s base salary will be guaranteed for skill, injury, and salary cap. That means Johnson would earn that chunk of change even if he’s cut, and it also means the Cardinals avoided using the “minimum salary benefit,” allowing the team to lower his cap hit even further.

There is also $1.13MM worth of incentive money in Johnson’s deal. The running back can earn that cash if he rushes for 1,300 yards. This is probably an unreachable number for Johnson, as Kent Somers of AZCentral.com notes that only one player in Cardinals history has surpassed that mark (Ottis Anderson, 1980/1981).

TUESDAY, AUG 18, 7:57am: While Johnson can earn up to $2MM on his new deal, he’s unlikely to do so. As Ed Werder of ESPN.com explains (via Twitter), the one-year deal has a base value worth the minimum salary, with no signing bonus — Johnson would have to make the Pro Bowl and rush for 1,300 yards to earn the full $2MM.

MONDAY, 5:20pm: The Cardinals and Chris Johnson have agreed to a one-year deal, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The deal is worth up to $2MM, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).Chris Johnson (vertical)

We heard one week ago that Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians wasn’t overly thrilled with the play of his running backs so far this summer, and intended to discuss outside options with GM Steve Keim. The ground game was a weak spot in Arizona last season, as the team’s leading rusher, Andre Ellington, totaled just 660 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry. No other Cardinals back had more than 250 rushing yards.

Now, the Cardinals have Ellington poised to bounce back with Johnson, third-round rookie David Johnson, Stepfan Taylor, and Kerwynn Williams as potential complements to Ellington. Chris Johnson, who turns 30 in September, is now six years removed from his 2,000-yard season, which came back in 2009.

Last season for the Jets, Johnson ran for just 663 yards, the first time in his career he recorded fewer than 1,000 yards in a season. However, he averaged a respectable 4.3 yards per carry in 2014, and claims to be in great shape this year after being shot in a drive-by shooting during the offseason.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.